Cement block



June 25, 1940. F, KRAEMER 2,205,419

CEMENT BLOCK Filed April 6, 1939 f" 1 4 {y m 14 x2 2/ 1NVENTOR. BY mAo'vitk Know m4;

MW ATTORNEY.

Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to blocks, wall constructions and to methods of laying walls.

Heretofore in the art, cement blocks have been formed in molds and laid in wall construction by applying mortar to parts ofthe block when and as one block is laid upon another block.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a cement block which when laid dry upon another cement block is automatically aligned both vertically and horizontally in the final position of the block in the finished wall. In order to eliminate the chances of irregular laying of cement blocks and irregularities in the finished wall which at the present time result from placing one block on another after cement has been applied to the previous block and to eliminate a great amount of labor which is now necessary in truing and gaging the blocks to assure a true alignment, and in securing the result of an improved method of laying blocks so that they are truly aligned when initially laid, suitable open or cut-away portions are provided on the blocks which are adjacent the outer or inner sides of the wall and which provide grooves or crevices in which mortar can be applied after the blocks are in their final position. This permits a whole row of any desired number of blocks to be laid before the mortaring operationand, therefore, results in a great economy of time and of mortar, as well as assuring that the alignment of the blocks, both vertically and horizontally is perfect when the mortar has been applied later to till the grooves or crevices in the walls. The only operation required is the moving of a straight-edge tool over the surface which leaves the mortar and outer walls of blocks in perfect alignment, making a beautiful and attractive finished wall. This process prevents the loss of mortar which is now involved in the present methods of wall construction from cement blocks. .Supplemental key-openings may be used where and if desired through which the mortar may be pressed to form key-locks for the wall.

The grooves or crevices are preferably so formed that water drains down and out of the wall at all times. The blocks used preferably have vertical air chambers and the devices for positioning the blocks with reference to each other may be formed by protuberances on the upper surface of the walls which separate these air chambers and recesses formed at the bottom of the blocks in the corresponding" walls between the air chambers. In making blocks for use .at corners or ends it is necessary only to provide a removable core in the mold and when this core eliminate the danger of chipping and fracture as f well as cost of transportation of the blocks.

Many modifications, but within the principles outlined, may be made by those skilled in the art.

Reference is made to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a top view.

Figure 2 is an elevation partly in section.

Figure 3 is a plan view showing two meeting ends.

Figure 4 is an end view with the lower block sectioned. v

Figure 5 is a section showing an enlarged cemented vertical groove.

Figure 6 is a section showing an enlarged cemented horizontal groove.

A cement block ill has transverse vertical walls H and side walls l2 and I3, leaving vertical air spaces inside the block. The top H of the wall I2 is beveled outwardly and downwardly and the bottom of the wall It is horizontal so that when one block is laid on top of another block a. horizontal angular groove is formed, the bottom ll of which provides for the drainage of water downwardly and outwardly. The topl5 of the wall I3 is also beveled downwardly and outwardly and the bottom of the wall 13. is horizontal so that when one block is laid on top of another block a horizontal groove is formed, the bottom l5 of which provides for the drainage of water downwardly and outwardly. The grooves are directly opposed to each other on opposite sides of the block and are in their final form when the blocks are laid in the wall, as shown in Figure 4. 1

The right end iii of the wall I! is beveled outwardly and rearwardly and the left end, is squared off perpendicular to the face of the wall l2 so that when the blocks Ill are laid end to end, as shown in Figure 3, vertical angular grooves are formed between adjacent walls l2 of adjacent blocks l0.

The right end I! of the wall I3 is beveled outwardly and rearwardly and the left end is squared ofi perpendicular to the face of the wall B so that when the blocks II) are laid end-to'end, as shown in Figure 3, vertical angular grooves are formed between adjacent walls Hi. The grooves are directlyopposed to each other on opposite sides of-the block and in their final form, as shown inFigure 3, the grooves are opposite each other.

As shown in Figures 2 and 4, the transverse walls II have at the tops upward horizontal projections 2i and at the bottoms similar up- ,ward recesses 22 which exactly interfit, so that when the blocks III are laid upon each other they truly align both horizontally and vertically in their final position in the wall construction.

After a few blocks, or many blocks have been laid in the wall, mortar is finally applied to fill the crevices, forming cement seals 25 and 26, and keys 2'! may be inserted where desired, as shown in Figures 5 and 6.

A straight-edge tool moved across the surfaces of the blocks quickly and neatly finishes the wall, leaving the surface of the cement coextensive with the surface of the united blocks. 4 7

Sharp corners are preferably avoided in the blocks to eliminate cracking and chipping.

Having disclosed my invention, I realize that many changes in detail will readily occur to those skilled in the art but within the spirit and scope of my invention, so therefore I do not limit myself except as in the appended claim.

I claim: A building block comprising longitudinal sid walls and a plurality of vertical transverse walls I connecting said side-walls and providing a plurality of vertical air chambers in the block, these longitudinal side-walls having their bottoms formed with plain surfaces and their tops formed with outwardly and downwardly inclined surfaces, the vertical ends of said longitudinal sidewalls having vertical bevels at one end, and having walls in planes perpendicular to the sides at the other end, the tops of the transverse vertical walls being elevated above the tops of the longitudinal side-walls to form transverse ribs, and the bottoms of said transverse vertical walls being upset to provide concavities similar to the protuberances on the tops thereof, whereby one block can be set on another block or blocks and definitely aligned without mortar by engaging the protuberances on the tops of the vertical transverse walls with the recesses formed in the bottoms of said vertical transverse walls, and the blocks may be completely sealed together to form unitary side walls after positioning on one another by applying mortar from the outside in the crevice formed around the entire periphery of each side of each block.

FREDERICK KRAEMER. 

